In our May 10, 2009 issue (v12n19), Dennis Tucker submitted a press release on the new large print edition of the classic "Red Book", A Guide Book of United States Coins.

From the press release:

Whitman Publishing's Guide Book of United States Coins (by R.S. Yeoman, edited by Kenneth Bressett, now in its 63rd edition) is available for the first time in a large-print format. The new option measures 8.5 x 11 inches, with a glossy softcover and spiral binding.

"The new Large Print Edition Red Book is 45% larger than the regular edition," said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. "It has bold, easy-to-read print, and every photograph is enlarged in high detail. The book includes all the content of the regular editioní¬every price, mintage, and specification, and all the historical background text."

At that time I wrote:

I haven't seen a copy of this edition yet, but it sounds like a great idea. My own eyes aren't what they used to be, and bigger print is always better. I'm glad to know that the images are larger in this edition, too. I wonder if this is what the size of the book would have been anyway if the publisher hadn't kept with the original page size while year after year cramming more and more great information into the annual guide. -Editor

Dennis was kind enough to send a review copy, and I'm quite grateful. The large-print spiral-bound version is to me a great improvement over the standard version. I do find it much easier to read and use. You young whippersnappers out there can giggle and point if you want to, but the large print version will be this old numismatist's format of choice.

I can read it easily and the larger images are suburb. I like them better than the images in the Byers error book discussed above, although again, I'm no expert on coin photography.

I pulled out my 1949 and 2007 editions for comparison and sure enough, I could easily read the 1949 but had trouble with 2007. I think my earlier suspicion in correct - had the book's profile grown along with its content over the years, the result would be similar to what we see in the large print edition (just not QUITE as large).